3 We must be like children in three things chiefly, first, like little babes. Secondly,1 like innocents. Thirdly, like them that are growing from childhood. First, babes are never quiet, except the p•p be in their mouth, or else having late been at it, they are well fed: so ought we still to desire to lie at the food of our souls, and to find unquietness in our souls, if we be long from it. Secondly, weaned children, though they are not without natural corruption; yet this corruption doth rather show it self by imitation, than by action: and if they do any evil, it is rather violent than permanent. Thus should we be, not making an occupation of sin, but preoccupated of sin; not forecasting patterns of sin, but bending our minds how we may not sin; we are violently drawn thereunto by another rather then voluntarily commit it our selves. Thirdly, they that grow out of2 child-hood, do things beseeming man-hood, rather then childishees: so though babish things both in life and doctrine become us being babes, yet having past our child-hood,3 the Lord looks for more manly ripeness, both in knowledge & in holiness of life, though our perfect age be not consummated before the resurrection. As little children, whether in teachableness to good, or reformablenes from sin, are either wo••e by a fair word,4 or •llured by a trifling benefit, or awed by a check, or feared by a frowning look or stilled by seeing another beaten before them, or else quieted by the rod: so if we be children, either the promises of God must affect us, or the mercies of God must allure us, or his threatenings in his word must awe us, or his angry countenance must fear us, or his correcting of others must humble us; or else the corrections of God upon our selves, must pull us down. But as those children are of most liberal & ingenuous nature, who are rather allured with fair words, than driven to duty with the rod; so they are most gracious, which are most broken with the conscience of their unkindness, more provoked by the promises of God: then by all the curses, thunderings, and threatenings of the law: but they that are affected with neither, degenerate as yet from the affections of children.
3 Wee must bee like children in three things chiefly, first, like little babes. Secondly,1 like innocents. Thirdly, like them that are growing from childhood. First, babes are neuer quiet, except the p•p be in their mouth, or else hauing late bene at it, they are well fed: so ought we still to desire to lie at the foode of our soules, and to finde vnquietnes in our soules, if we be long from it. Secondly, weaned children, though they are not without naturall corruption; yet this corruption doth rather shew it selfe by imitation, than by action: and if they doe any euill, it is rather violent than permanent. Thus should we be, not making an occupation of sinne, but preoccupated of sinne; not forecasting patternes of sinne, but bending our mindes how we may not sinne; we are violently drawne thereunto by another rather then voluntarily commit it our selues. Thirdly, they that grow out of2 child-hood, doe things beseeming man-hood, rather then childishees: so though babish things both in life and doctrine become vs being babes, yet hauing past our child-hood,3 the Lord looks for more manly ripenesse, both in knowledge & in holines of life, though our perfect age be not consummated before the resurrection. As little children, whether in teachablenes to good, or reformablenes from sinne, are either wo••e by a faire word,4 or •llured by a trifling benefit, or awed by a checke, or feared by a frowning looke or stiiled by seeing another beaten before them, or else quieted by the rod: so if we be children, either the promises of God must affect vs, or the mercies of God must allure vs, or his threatnings in his word must awe vs, or his angrie countenance must feare vs, or his correcting of others must humble vs; or else the corrections of God vpon our selues, must pull vs downe. But as those children are of most liberall & ingenuous nature, who are rather allured with faire words, than driuen to dutie with the rod; so they are most gracious, which are most broken with the conscience of their vnkindnesse, more prouoked by the promises of God: then by all the curses, thunderings, and threatnings of the law: but they that are affected with neither, degenerate as yet from the affections of children.
- 11 how the faithful must •ee li•• little children. •2 1. Pet. 2. 1.1 how the faithfull must •ee li•• little children. •2 1. Pet. 2. 1.
- 23
- 3Heb: 5. 12.
- 4Simile.
